That's So Raven (Q&A Raven)

[Raven Cadera]

Raven is pretty much an open book and I hope to return to her!

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

Thanks for the Mando culture 101's. Not being quite the level of SW geek as a lot of the folks around here, it was appreciated. I was glad that Raven's love of music provided an early connection to that clump of characters.

Raven was...busy. (looks at post counts) Very busy. What's the biggest lesson/character shift she wound up with here? Because I feel like there were definitely some in there with so much prose.

[Raven Cadera]

Thanks for the Mando culture 101's. Not being quite the level of SW geek as a lot of the folks around here, it was appreciated. I was glad that Raven's love of music provided an early connection to that clump of characters.

Raven was...busy. (looks at post counts) Very busy. What's the biggest lesson/character shift she wound up with here? Because I feel like there were definitely some in there with so much prose.

Always happy to indulge in geekiness, and Mandalorians are one of the parts of Star Wars that has a lot of fluff to dive into (which makes me very happy as a hobby-anthropologist ). And with the Mandalorian faction that Meiyokashi has created for this game, it gives a unique opportunity to have a good connection to the setting she's made for us.

And I was super happy that someone played a musical character since that was something Raven liked back in the previous game too but lacked anyone to connect with over it. <3

Yeah, I was very busy, but mostly because Raven's headspace is interesting to me, and Meiyokashi provided some very fun plot to pursue.

Raven's biggest/lesson character shift kind of culminated on Day 10. Leading up to it, she was trying to figure out how to cope with her own shortcomings and failures... which for her meant to try harder and to work harder. Which isn't bad as such, but she lacked a healthier way to deal with it instead of running herself ragged of trying to live up to expectations, real and imagined. Losing in the fight against Carid, and still walking away from that fight, was something she struggled a lot to understand until Deonis hit her with some wisdom of his own. Rezzie also on the same day confronted her about how she's trying to look after everyone and she needs to stop that. xD

So Raven's biggest lesson learned this game, is that she can't keep putting high expectations on herself that is way above and beyond what others actually expect of her. She shouldn't place others on a pedestal either, or do it to herself. Losing and failing is something that happens, and you need to learn from those losses and failures, and move on - instead of beating yourself up over it (it's not going to get you anywhere other than feeling like shit). And sometimes, losing is acceptable.

[The SCaT Droid]

So now that there is likely going to be a rival Mandalorian player faction, and with the warning that her family is falling apart, how does Raven move forward?

[Manny Donos]

Oh Raven. Such a Mando. I really like your take on Mandoness, and it's always a joy to have her and Manny bounce off each other.

Dhel asked some of the questions I otherwise would, so let me ask more specifically: how do things stand between Raven and Carid now? Uneasy peace? Gearing up for Round 2?

I really like reading about the lessons she learned; that's terrific stuff, and it's awesome to see a character grow through adversity like that. Thanks for sharing her journey with all of us!

[Raven Cadera]

So now that there is likely going to be a rival Mandalorian player faction, and with the warning that her family is falling apart, how does Raven move forward?

Same as other rival factions (though a group of three is not really a faction?)? Mandalorians are a pretty splintered group as it is now. Personally I'm not interested in PvP so... you guys have fun with that?

Raven doesn't really believe in Carid's word that her family is falling apart. More the words of an opponent who is trying to break her morale, make her doubt herself. If anything, Raven feels that her family has become closer since she joined the Rebuilders (don't know if that's true or not, but that's how she sees it), not falling apart.

She's got a lot of stuff to move forward for. Her friends, her family, the Rebuilders. All of those add into the mix of how she manages to push forward and continue on. The Rebuilders gave her a home and a family when she needed it the most, and she's always been dedicated to the cause there.

[Raven Cadera]

Oh Raven. Such a Mando. I really like your take on Mandoness, and it's always a joy to have her and Manny bounce off each other.

Dhel asked some of the questions I otherwise would, so let me ask more specifically: how do things stand between Raven and Carid now? Uneasy peace? Gearing up for Round 2?

I really like reading about the lessons she learned; that's terrific stuff, and it's awesome to see a character grow through adversity like that. Thanks for sharing her journey with all of us!

Thank you! I like always finding new ways to interact with eachother, and well, Manny needs someone responsible like Raven to look after him and Raven needs someone like Manny to just be silly with. xD


Raven and Carid.... hmmmmm... I would say that the hatchet is buried. They fought, giving their word that it would end with the result of that fight, she lost and Carid won, choosing to spare her life. A confusing moment for her, but one she's come to accept that it means she now has the power to keep that word. Now if Carid comes back to start shit again, it will probably go down once more. But at the end of this, Raven has a grudging respect for him as a warrior and as a Mandalorian.

And in a way, it was kind of a reminder to herself of the honor she wants to maintain and live up to. And coming back to her roots from Kamda and as seen here is that she genuinly wants her people (the Mandalorians as a whole) to be united and whole again, not killing eachother. Carid was a reminder of that.

[Manny Donos]

I feel like he should stab fewer people, though. Like dude, enough!

[J-Richo Toboga]

Same as other rival factions (though a group of three is not really a faction?)? Mandalorians are a pretty splintered group as it is now. Personally I'm not interested in PvP so... you guys have fun with that?

Let me be clear here: I have no interest in PvP but I also have no interest in being walked over either.

[Raven Cadera]

I feel like he should stab fewer people, though. Like dude, enough!

Stab on the battlefield, not as a guest! That was (one of) Raven's issues with the whole thing!

[Manny Donos]

Stab on the battlefield, not as a guest! That was (one of) Raven's issues with the whole thing!

He also stabbed that guy we rescued. Every time Manny saw him, he ended up stabbing someone!

What were your, like, three favorite scenes, and what did you like about them? I'd ask about the single favorite scene, but you had so many, I figure I can ask about the top three!

[Raven Cadera]

What were your, like, three favorite scenes, and what did you like about them? I'd ask about the single favorite scene, but you had so many, I figure I can ask about the top three!

Oooof. Hmmmmmm.... so hard to choose! I had a lot of good moments, especially interacting with so many great characters that added their pieces to Raven's story and she in turn touching theirs.

The argument with Dex is on that list. It also had a great juxtaposition of those two being very sweet and warm with eachother in a scene earlier that same day, so when it was happening it was really gut-wrenching. It was a moment of playing on Raven's moral weakness (I like to give these to characters even if they're not Force Sensitive, Raven is Survivor/Fear), and while she wouldn't say it she was acting out of fear with her decisions. And that fear she was also projecting onto Dex. It was a really emotional scene and full of hard choices... Raven didn't feel like she could make any "right choice" in that moment and kind of just... gave up then and there, too tired, exhausted, and emotionally hurt to muster up the strength to act.


The final battle with Carid is also important and character-changing. And it was the finale of her personal arc and that of the Rebuilder-storyline too. When I saw his dual-wielding action in that fight, I felt pretty sure that... Raven wouldn't win this, so I was mentally preparing myself for that to be her end. Carid's choice to save her life, and by that extension ending the conflict between the two groups instead of just him continued to be chased by the Rebuilders for his actions... so good, so dramatic. And so impactful on Raven's perception of him and other things in her life.


Lastly, I think I want to say the Day 10 mealtime at the safehouse, with multiple characters gathered together. I personally like moments of quiet like that for characters, to see what they're like when not fighting for their lives or are faced with hard choices. How they relax, how they are around those they care about, how do they joke, what do they like to eat... stuff like that. It takes the step of making the character more than just being a concept or a collectionf of stats, but puts a perspective on how they are as a character, filling them out more.

[Varina Ordo]

Has Varina officially left the child/parent zone or is it still a long time coming?!

[Raven Cadera]

Has Varina officially left the child/parent zone or is it still a long time coming?!

She has left the Child/Parent zone! You can mostly thank Rezzie for that for thwacking Raven over the head about it. But also, Varina has more than enough proved that she is an adult now... she earned her armor, and she not only handled herself well in the fight on the Imperial vessel, but also looked after her sister Soleene.

Raven is proud of Varina. <3

[Varina Ordo]

Too bad Raven might have to have more of "the talk" with Varina. Not like she's going to ask her actual parents!

[Raven Cadera]

Too bad Raven might have to have more of "the talk" with Varina. Not like she's going to ask her actual parents!

That's what sisters are for too! <3

[Tenzing]

Raven was a great character and I loved our Mando-Mom and Clone-Dad vibe Thanks for including me in the Carid plot early on, it really helped to get me into the character and get posting when I was struggling due to RL.

Hopefully in future games we can work on Tenzing's Mandalorian accent

It seemed like Raven had a lot of character development over this game, so what do you see her doing next (other than losing limbs to a vengeful GM)?

[Raven Cadera]

Raven was a great character and I loved our Mando-Mom and Clone-Dad vibe Thanks for including me in the Carid plot early on, it really helped to get me into the character and get posting when I was struggling due to RL.

Hopefully in future games we can work on Tenzing's Mandalorian accent

It seemed like Raven had a lot of character development over this game, so what do you see her doing next (other than losing limbs to a vengeful GM)?

I'm glad it helped you! When I have some goal or plot I'm involved in, I try to expand it to other players too, especially if I see they don't have much to keep them engaged.

And yes, we need to get rid of the Officer Crabtree accent.

She did! As for what she's doing next, I have some ideas for it, but ultimately those ideas can be best summed up with "helping the Rebuilders". She is very invested in seeing her people grow and to have more resources to build with. It's going to be a lot of effort to do it, but she believes in Mand'alor and the goal of restoring the Mandalorian people (and eventually retake their home from the Empire and the Saxons).

[Soleene Stryss]

Sister!

Thanks for the Mando culture 101's. Not being quite the level of SW geek as a lot of the folks around here, it was appreciated. I was glad that Raven's love of music provided an early connection to that clump of characters.

I was basically to say this and echo it once more! Thank you for roping me into the Enclave and allowing me to tag along for the adventure. It was pretty fun to give the Mando thing a try and it went into some unexpected places!

As it's been mentioned already, just wanted to say that I can't fully fathom the roller coaster you felt of going after Carid at full speed only to be defeated by him...then having him spare your life to end it. Like wow, that must have given you some serious whiplash!

[Raven Cadera]

Sister!

I was basically to say this and echo it once more! Thank you for roping me into the Enclave and allowing me to tag along for the adventure. It was pretty fun to give the Mando thing a try and it went into some unexpected places!

As it's been mentioned already, just wanted to say that I can't fully fathom the roller coaster you felt of going after Carid at full speed only to be defeated by him...then having him spare your life to end it. Like wow, that must have given you some serious whiplash!

Always happy to contribute and interact with you guys to make for a fun experience. And since Mandalorian is something you can become without having all the lore, I think it also seemed like a good place to start, while also being a part of the group and overall story that Meiyokashi had created for us.


And omg! Such a rollercoaster! Aaaaahhhh!! For me the player it was a great moment to have Raven suffer a defeat that she could grow from. But it was incredibly intense and crazy. I could hardly sleep after that because it was such an intense experience. xD

For Raven it's taking more work to fully digest it, but she's had some good people like Deonis (and of course Praxton) to support her and enlighten her on the matter. And well, she is happy to be alive because that means that in the end, the Enclave didn't lose anyone, and she gets to continue to look after her family there.